Bishop Auckland are just about home in the race for the championship. They extended their lead to a hefty 53 points when they met Stokesley yesterday in a rearranged fixture.

David Weighell opened Stokesley's innings which he held together scoring five boundaries in 35 but generally the Bishops attack was in command.

Clive Dowson, however, carried his bat for 32 when he went in at number ten enabling a total of 162 to be achieved. Paul Timmens and Chris Sawyer both claimed four wickets before Darren Blenkiron dominated the visitors reply.

He crashed 13 boundaries in an unbeaten 85 as Bishop's took another step towards an immediate return to the Premier Division.

Seaton Carew are in joint second position with Great Ayton and they had four wickets in hand at Billingham Synthonia, who were restricted to 148-8 as David Alsop claimed five wickets for just 46 runs.

Paul Gough led Seaton's reply and he batted throughout the innings for an unbeaten 66 which together with 32 from Ricky Clayton proved decisive as Kevin Martin took all six wickets to fall for 68 runs.

Bedale did well to restrict Middlesbrough to only 133 all out in 31.3 overs at Acklam Park. Raf Rashid struck eight fours in a top-scoring 42, but the introduction of Phil Staves into the attack caused a slump in the fortunes of the home side as he picked up four wickets for just 22 runs in 6.3 overs.

Guy Darwin, with six boundaries in 38 and Karl Berrins, whose half century included nine fours, steered Bedale to victory in 26.4 overs. Three of the four wickets to fall were taken by Paul Cook for just 23 runs in eight overs.

Redcar made the highest score of the day, 245-3 and Yarm responded with 220-7. Mally Whitehead featured in the home side's innings, crashing three sixes and 13 boundaries in his unbeaten 112. He formed an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 89 with Alan Cunningham. Earlier, Whitehead and Steve Law (51) added 103 together for the third wicket but despite facing a big target, Yarm were not deterred.

Their openers Wilson (84) and Barker (70) led the fight-back and Carter added 36 but when time was called, Yarm were 26 runs short of a winning margin with three wickets remaining.

Darlington's batsmen were also in form against Marton at Feethams but this game also finished in a draw.

Colin Biglin struck four sixes and eight boundaries in 71 before being run out and Peter Bentley suffered the same fate after making 37. A total of 221-7 was posted from the 50 overs and when they went into bat, Marton realised 165-8 which included a half century from Lee Charlton. Chris Dent had a good game with the ball for Darlington taking 4-60 from 13 overs.

An undefeated century from Duncan Coates, who recorded four sixes and 12 fours, propelled Barnard Castle to 191-6 in their home game with Stokesley, who were on the brink of defeat at 91-8